Night in jail for cops

TWO policemen spent last night in jail after being denied bail by acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John on charges of possession of marijuana and illegal firearms.

Constables Stephen Johnson and Toola Jack stood in the Port of Spain 4A court where Magistrates Forde-John said she was unwilling to consider bail since the matters must be transferred to the district court in which the offences allegedly took place. The two will appear in the Siparia court today, when the presiding magistrate will address the issue of bail.

Johnson and Jack were arrested by colleagues from the South Western Division Task Force along Southern Main Road, Dow Village in South Oropouche last week Tuesday after their marked police vehicle was searched. They allegedly had in their possession four crocus bags filled with 103 packages of marijuana and three illegal firearms.

The drugs weighed 54.3 kilogrammes and has an estimated street value of $733,000. Johnson is on an additional charge of possession of ten rounds of ammunition allegedly found during a search of his Laventille home, a day after his arrest.

For that charge, he was granted $45,000 bail to be approved by a clerk of the peace or a cash alternative of $20,000.

He also has to report to the Besson Street Police Station every Wednesday and Saturday and will reappear in the Port of Spain Magistrates Court, on that offence, on October 24. The two were represented by attorneys Ian Brooks and Daryl Worrel. The charges were laid indictably so they were not called on to enter a plea.